Amir Fathi, MD

Amir Fathi, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, and Program Director, Center for Leukemia at Massachusetts General Hospital, called the phase III data on quizartinib “compelling” and noted some potential advantages over the first-generation FLT3 inhibitor midostaurin.

“The current standard of care is midostaurin in addition to conventional induction chemotherapy as upfront treatment for FLT3-mutated AML [acute myeloid leukemia],” Dr. Fathi told The ASCO Post. “Midostaurin is a good FLT3 inhibitor, but it is less specific [than quizartinib], and it is associated with mainly gastrointestinal side effects in some patients, which can make treatment challenging.”

Dr. Fathi continued: “To have a more potent, selective FLT3 inhibitor available in the front-line setting is potentially welcome news. The overall survival advantage with quizartinib in combination with conventional upfront therapy is exciting. Hopefully, these data will move the field.” 

DISCLOSURE: Dr. Fathi has served as a consultant for AbbVie, Genentech, BMS, Servier, Amgen, Astellas, Takeda, Immunogen, Mablytics, Ipsen, Enclear, Orum, PureTech, Celgene, Forma, Agios, Daiichi Sankyo, Novartis, and Kite. He has received funding for clinical trials from Agios/Servier, Celgene/BMS, and AbbVie.